The Strange and Erie World of the Christian Bookstore

(Note: some of the coolest people I know are christians. I am reffering to a right-wing subculture within our society that at once amazes and shocks me)

When I was in Oregon this past summer doing a workshop, I discovered this bookstore in Medford that felt like a portal into another dimension. It had music, books, movies and gifts, all with this fake and sparkly sheen about it that reminded me of every movie I had ever seen about cults. A real trip.

A few years ago I would have avoided such a place like the plague, there is a certain smell to places like that that feels unhealthy and people always give me dirty looks. However, I have been curious for so long about people on the other side of the political spectrum and of what kind of enviroment would support such a limited and flawed worldview; I had to go in.

The well dressed lady at the desk greated me with a forced smile of glaringly white teeth. I had no illusions that she welcomed me into the store, but I took a certain sadistic satisfaction in that there was nothing she could do about it. I wandered into the music section and listened to some of the sample music for a while, a mix of bland pop, innocent and heartfelt folk musicians, sociopathic country music , rather shrill and insincere altenative music, and some great gospel sent in from heaven above. I tried to feel a connection of understanding with who would listen to and create this music, whereever it fell in the spectrum of quality. I wondered to mysef if the creaters of some of the better, more real christian music would side with me or the lady at the counter in a political debate. I say me.

I combed the bookshelves, not suprised to see books by former racists like Ollie North and windbags like Pat Robertson, but not a single left-wing perspective in their entire politics section. It was like they had built this safe world around themselves that didn't include any point of view that offended their right-wing "christian" sensibilities.

I wonder to myself, do I do this at all? Do I funnel all the opinions I agree on into my main realm of experience and exclude all others. I pick up a book that looks like it might have something intelligent to say in it and skim through it searching for that rare bird of intellectual discourse; an intelligent right wing debate.

Denied: all I remember is name-calling, hate mongering and lies. I don't remember what exactly it said to prove it to you, but I suggest you take a portal to the "right-wing christian dimension" to find out for yourself.

Now, I don't think I would recommend a vacation in "Christian Bookstore-land" but it's worth it to spend an hour in one to see what america will be like in the future. If we don't do something fast, all the bookstores will be "christian" bookstores.

 

I have been meaning to stop by and pick up some things, but I am a little hesitant due to the fact that most of the paraphernalia is centered around mainstream Christianity. Not all Christian authors are guided by the holy spirit, so not all of them have truth.

 

What happens is that all the 'Secular' bookstore chains like Boots, Chapters (not sure the American equivalent but it probably has a Starbucks in it) will only carry the most liberal, critical and 'leftist' Christian authors in their 'Religion' sections.

The Christian bookstores tend to '(over)compensate' for this by carrying only the ones you cant find anywhere else.

You know that certain Christian bookstores will feature authors the store-owners personally favour too.. like 'Word-Faith' teachers.. or perhaps '700-Club' favourites.

Well hey.. at least you can always count on a good old Billy Graham tome.

 

I don't think that quite explains it, LOL! When I look at the religious section in most chain bookstores like "Barnes N Noble" I see mostly conservative authors and not allot of dialog. Independent bookstores are different.

 

LOL.. yes it does explain it (at least, in part).

B&A not withstanding.

 

Not in the US. If I go into any "chain" bookstore in the US the "Christian" section is dominated by right-wing opinion. The same for Christian TV, except for "The Word" network which sometimes has people like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton.

But there really are some strange communities in the US. We should start a "Fanatical Christian tour" to take people to the surreal, right-wing neighborhoods that can't deal with divergent opinions in their midst.

 

just want to say that your original post was very thoughtful and well-written, cobcottage. i admire that you ventured into that world and attempted to connect with the people that like and/or make christian music. it's difficult for me to do that!

 

can someone give me the gist of this one?

 

I have to agree that the selection on most Christian bookstore shelves is politically narrow. I would also say that it tends to be intellectually shallow. Christian pop culture is no less vapid than its secular counterpart.

 

Part one of your problem- you were in Medford. The town itself is a little bass ackwards.


Part two- Ya need to check out more than just one. I've been to Christian book stores that have coffee joints in 'em that put your best typical neighborhood joint to shame. A lot have music that is actually GOOD music, not just the stuff you hear on the low end of the fm dial or the stuff you see on The Bible Channel. music that makes guys like Pantera and Slipknot sound like pansies. Ya also have to check out a few more books, and look at the perspective from where it's being written.

Anyways, that's my 2 cents